{"id":2759,"date":"2025-05-05T11:25:00","date_gmt":"2025-05-05T11:25:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/?p=2759"},"modified":"2025-05-05T11:25:00","modified_gmt":"2025-05-05T11:25:00","slug":"book-review-pathway-to-freedom","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/?p=2759","title":{"rendered":"Book Review: Pathway to Freedom"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-media-text alignwide is-stacked-on-mobile\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-background\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-vertical is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-4b2eccd6 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-text-color has-large-font-size\"><strong><em>Pathway to Freedom<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-regular-font-size\">by Lucinda T. Green, Ph.D.<\/p>\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong>Genre:<\/strong> Religion &amp; Spirituality \/ Buddha<\/p>\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong>ISBN: <\/strong>9798891324985<\/p>\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong>Print Length:<\/strong> 224 pages<\/p>\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong>Publisher:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/atmospherepress.com\/\">Atmosphere Press<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"align-button-center ub-buttons orientation-button-row 1 wp-block-ub-button\">\n<div class=\"ub-button-container\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/4cVs7dG\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"ub-button-block-main ub-button-medium   ub-button-flex-medium\" rel=\"noopener\">\n<div class=\"ub-button-content-holder\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"ub-button-icon-holder\">\n<p>\t\t\t<\/p><\/span><span class=\"ub-button-block-btn\">Amazon<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p>\t\t\t<\/p><\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"ub-button-container\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/bookshop.org\/a\/5423\/9798891324985\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"ub-button-block-main ub-button-medium   ub-button-flex-medium\" rel=\"noopener\">\n<div class=\"ub-button-content-holder\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"ub-button-icon-holder\">\n<p>\t\t\t<\/p><\/span><span class=\"ub-button-block-btn\">Bookshop<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p>\t\t\t<\/p><\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><em>Reviewed by John M. Murray<\/em><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"ub_advanced_heading wp-block-ub-advanced-heading\"><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong>An accessible and engaging overview of Buddhism, meditation, and how to incorporate their teachings into modern life<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>While humanity has evolved from the hunter\/gatherer tribes of the past, we still all experience suffering. The Buddha once proffered his teachings that while misery is unavoidable, suffering is not. His Eightfold Path sought to help people understand and develop a practice toward reducing suffering.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><em>Pathway to Freedom<\/em> provides valuable context for the Buddha\u2019s teaching by discussing how to adapt a practice to fit modern life and how to face the world with realistic positivity.<\/p>\n<p>The book\u2019s structure provides a logical progression through the historical context before ending up at developing a modern practice. The Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path are the bulk of the book comprised of the teachings but also the rationale behind each element.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><span><\/span><\/p>\n<p>The concluding chapters provide the most actionable information in regards to setting up, maintaining, and deepening a healthy meditative practice. A recurring push to stop and reflect gives space for readers to process the material along with suggestions on how to apply the lessons to everyday life.<\/p>\n<p>Green writes with patient enthusiasm, eager to share the information while providing enough \u201ctechnical\u201d jargon to reinforce the material. The unusual concepts and terminology come with sufficient context to help people unfamiliar with Buddhism understand.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The actionable sections of the book become even more patient with clear information on how and why meditation is helpful in modern life. The material is free of judgement and doesn\u2019t require any previous knowledge. Green frequently refers to historical and spiritual predecessors, but some of the most compelling stories and poems are her own creation. The injection of personal experiences helps ground the material and makes it feel much more accessible to novice practitioners.<\/p>\n<p>To reinforce the desire to keep the material accessible and engaging, the final chapter is a concise summation of everything that proceeded it. This outline is a fantastic resource for reviewing the material quickly especially if someone is trying to stick to a meditation routine after reading this. The inclusion of further steps\u2014additional elements and variations on the meditation practice\u2014provides more opportunity for growth.<\/p>\n<p><em>Pathway to Freedom<\/em> is an educational, practical guide for improving one\u2019s quality of life. While bad things will always happen, the response to those negative elements determine mental wellbeing. Mindfulness and various types of meditation\u2014all covered in this informative and actionable overview of Buddhism\u2014can provide a framework to build resiliency and realistic positivity in the face of hardship.<\/p>\n<div class=\"align-button-center ub-buttons orientation-button-row 1 wp-block-ub-button\">\n<div class=\"ub-button-container\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/4cVs7dG\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"ub-button-block-main ub-button-medium   ub-button-flex-medium\" rel=\"noopener\">\n<div class=\"ub-button-content-holder\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"ub-button-icon-holder\">\n<p>\t\t\t<\/p><\/span><span class=\"ub-button-block-btn\">Amazon<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p>\t\t\t<\/p><\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"ub-button-container\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/bookshop.org\/a\/5423\/9798891324985\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"ub-button-block-main ub-button-medium   ub-button-flex-medium\" rel=\"noopener\">\n<div class=\"ub-button-content-holder\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"ub-button-icon-holder\">\n<p>\t\t\t<\/p><\/span><span class=\"ub-button-block-btn\">Bookshop<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p>\t\t\t<\/p><\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Thank you for reading John M. Murray\u2019s book review of<em> Pathway to Freedom <\/em>by Lucinda T. Green, Ph.D.! If you liked what you read, please spend some more time with us at the links below.<\/p>\n<div class=\"align-button-center ub-buttons orientation-button-row 1 wp-block-ub-button\">\n<div class=\"ub-button-container\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/independentbookreview.com\/category\/book-review\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"ub-button-block-main ub-button-medium   ub-button-flex-medium\" rel=\"noopener\">\n<div class=\"ub-button-content-holder\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"ub-button-icon-holder\">\n<p>\t\t\t<\/p><\/span><span class=\"ub-button-block-btn\">Book Reviews<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p>\t\t\t<\/p><\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"ub-button-container\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/independentbookreview.com\/category\/blog\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"ub-button-block-main ub-button-medium   ub-button-flex-medium\" rel=\"noopener\">\n<div class=\"ub-button-content-holder\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"ub-button-icon-holder\">\n<p>\t\t\t<\/p><\/span><span class=\"ub-button-block-btn\">IBR Blog<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p>\t\t\t<\/p><\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"ub-button-container\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/independentbookreview.com\/writers-only\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"ub-button-block-main ub-button-medium   ub-button-flex-medium\" rel=\"noopener\">\n<div class=\"ub-button-content-holder\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"ub-button-icon-holder\">\n<p>\t\t\t<\/p><\/span><span class=\"ub-button-block-btn\">Resources for Writers<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p>\t\t\t<\/p><\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>The post <a href=\"https:\/\/independentbookreview.com\/2025\/05\/05\/book-review-pathway-to-freedom\/\">Book Review: Pathway to Freedom<\/a> appeared first on <a href=\"https:\/\/independentbookreview.com\/\">Independent Book Review<\/a>.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Pathway to Freedom by Lucinda T. Green, Ph.D. Genre: Religion &amp; Spirituality \/ Buddha ISBN: 9798891324985 Print Length: 224 pages Publisher: Atmosphere Press Amazon Bookshop Reviewed by John M. Murray An accessible and engaging overview of Buddhism, meditation, and how to incorporate their teachings into modern life While humanity has evolved from the hunter\/gatherer tribes [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":2760,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2759","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-bookreviews"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2759"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2759"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2759\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/2760"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2759"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2759"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2759"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}